Material digging and handling apparatus



March, 14, 1944. s. GRUBICH MATERIAL DIGGING AND HANDLING APPARATUSFiled April 22, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 :2 fi Q aaa aaaa mwwa i 59 ll 114g J Jail J i u 1 V mlimpw all .1 I:

V on INVEN TOR.

TEPHEN 6 HIGH.

q 3 ATTORNEY March 14, 1944. GRUBlCH 2,344,246

MATERIAL DIGGING AND HANDLING APPARATUS Filed April 22, 1942 5Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

STEPHEN GRUBICH. BY fi @C Q ATTORNEY.

March 14, 1944. s GRUBICH 2,344,246

MATERIAL DIGGING AND HANDLING APPARATUS Filed April 22, 1942 5Sheets-Sheet 3 IINVE'NTOR.

STEPHEN GRUBIGHU ATTORNEY.

S. GRUBICH March 14, 1944.

MATERIAL DIGGING AND HANDLING APPARATUS Filed April 22, 1942 5Sheets-Sheet 4 I N VE N TOR. STEPHEN GRUB/CH.

I 7 If,

ATTORNEY March 14, 1944. RUBICH 2,344,246

MATERIAL DIGGING AND HANDLING APPARATUS Filed April 22, 1942 5Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

TEPHENG BICH.

ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 14, 1944 UNITED STATES. PATENTrO-FFI CE MATERIALDIGGING AND HANDLING APPABA s Stephen Grubich, Milwaukee, Wis.

Application April 22, 1942, Serial No. 439,979

20 Claims. (01. 214-100) tures thereof may be employed with equaladvantage for other purposes.

It contemplates more especially an automatic shovel for scooping upmaterial in making excavations or transferring material from oneposition to another including the loading of trucks therewith forremoval after the digging or scooping operations. It will be understood,however, that the principles of this invention may be employed inconnection with the bulldozer, a blade plow and backfiller and variousother apparatus for handling material which it is desired to transferfor short distances from one location to another.

In an apparatus of the character involved herein, the distribution ofthe weight of the shovel mechanism with or without its contents, affectsthe loading capacity of the machine. It is therefore an aim of thepresent invention to construct and locate the parts in a manner so thatthe apparatus is more or less in a balanced state during operation anddoes not require outrigger I anchoring means which handicaps mobilityat'id the full advantageous use thereof. It is desirable to unload thebucket or shovel quickly and without injurious effect upon the apparatusor the trucks into which the bucket is discharged, thereby procuringmaximum capacity with minimum wear and tear on the instrirmentalities.

One object of the present invention is to simplify the construction andimprove the operation of devices of the character mentioned,

Another object is to provide an improved article digging and handlingapparatus to secure an increased lifting capacity due to thedistribution of the weight of the shovel mechanism so that in bothscooping and unloading positions the weight of the mechanism will bebehind the fulcrum while the remaining structure will act centerposition at the dumping or discharge end of the track.

A still further object is to provide means to transfer the materialdigging and handling bucket from its initial lifting means to a track sothat the parts may be compact, effective, and provide an unusually largecapacity for any. comparable size device.

Still a further object is to provide novel operating means fortransferring the bucket from the initial lifters to and along the trackwith provision for the buckettraveling slower during the initial stageof its operating cycle than in traversing for conveyance to itsdischarge end, thereby utilizing the power load most advantageously.

An additional object is to provide mobile mounted digging and handlinginstrumentalities including a track conveyor that is adjustably mountedto provide for different digging angles relative to the supporttherefor.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following descriptionof an illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical side elevation of my im= proved material handlingapparatus with certain portions broken away to clarify the disclosure.

Figure 2 is a vertical end elevation of the apparatus shown in Figure 1,looking at the rear or dumping end thereof.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of my improved material handling apparatus.

Figure 4 is a fragmental view in detail of the ramp or track portion ofthe apparatus, looking towards the inside face of one of the tracks,

Figure 5 is a detail of the ramp and its frame,

VII of Figure 4, showing the bucket wheel and its mount in elevation anda portion of the tripping mechanism.

Figure 8 is a vertical side elevation of the bucket lifting arms,detached from the apparatus.

Figure 9 is an end elevation of the parts shown in Figure 8, looking atthe same from the left hand side thereof. V

Figure 10 is a section on line X-X on Figure 8 looking in the directionof the arrows;

Figure 11 is a bottom planview of the bucket detached from theapparatus.

Figure 12 is a transverse section taken on line XII-XII of Figure 8,looking in the direction of the arrows and drawn to a larger scale.

Figure 13 is a broken away view showing portions of the bucket and thelifting member in section and showing the latching devices for attachingthe bucket to the lifting member.

The apparatus which I have devised is pref- 2 erably mounted upon amobile structure of the caterpillar type having the usual traction chainIII that is driven by a power wheel II at one end of the chassis. Thetraction chain passes around a large roller [2 at the other end of thechassis and its upper reach is tel-mediate small rollers l3. The body ofthe tractor is provided with a platform l4 upon which the powerinstrumentalities are mounted. At the rear of the platform there is aseat l5 for the operator, in front of which are suitable controls, whichwill later be described, and there is a motor or engine IQ of the liquidfuel type, preferably of the internal combustion type. In designatingthe front and rear ends of the apparatus, the end at the right in Figure1, where the material is dumped is deemed the rear end and the end atthe left in said figure where'the bucket or shovel picks up the materialto be handled is deemed the front end.

The tractor is usually provided withheavy angle iron side sills I! thatsupport bearing blocks l8 in which the trunnions IQ of the sprocketwheel II are journalled, similar bearing blocks or journals, not shown,being provided for the idle wheel l2 before mentioned.

The bucket, as has been hereinbefore stated, is adapted to travel duringa portion of its cycle upon a track which guides it to its position fordumping at the rear end of the tractor. The track compriseslongitudinally disposed channels supported by in- 20 that are inparallel relation to each other with their flanges facing or extendinginwardly, and said channels are preferably disposed in inclined planessuch as shown in Figure 1 so that a. ramp is provided thereby. At theirupper ends the channels forming the portions 2| that provide humps" andterminate in tangent downwardly extended terminal portions 22 whichlatter, at their extremities, are

provided with closed pockets shown in detail in Figure 4 to providestops 23. The lower or other ends of the tracks have downwardly curvedportions 24 and the upper flanges of the channels forming thesetracks iscut away as at 25 in Figure 4 to permit implacement of the wheeledbucket on the ramp. Angle metal beams 26 extended obliquely downwardfrom the rear ends of the tracks to corner plates 21 and the cornerplates 21 have bearing bosses 28 for the pivots or trunnions 25 thatproject from the tractor side sills. Similar beams 30 extend downwardly,from the lower frontends of the track rails and are united with theblocks 21. Suitable stays 3i, 32 and 33 are connected to the triangularshaped structures just previously described and thus provide a rigidframe of the cantilever type which is disposed in the manner shown inFigure l and which is fulcrumed upon the trunnions 29. Verticalstandards 34 arise from a suitable rear portion of the tractor and arebraced by stay bars 35 as shown'at the right hand of Figure 1. The upperends of the standards have oblique portions 36 that are provided with aplurality of apertures 31 to receive the shanks of bolts 38, which boltspass through aligned openings in the inclined frame members 26. Byremoving the nuts from the bolts 38 the track frame may be tilted uponits'trunnions 29 to adjust the angularity or incline of the rampmembers. and after the desired adjustment has been made the bolts areinserted through the aligned apertures in the oblique portion 36 of thestandard and the inclined frame member 26 to secure the frame in tracks20 have curved position. This adjusts the entering position of thebucket.

The bucket comprises a hollow body 3.9 of elongated trough-shape havingtransverse end walls 40, and it is provided upon its under portion withelongated trucks 4l-4i that are disposed transversely of the bucket bodynear the ends thereof and are provided with lateral stubs 42-42 uponwhich suitable wheels 43-43 are journalled. These wheels are adapted tosupport the bucket when it is travelling upon the ramp tracks 20, andsaid wheels are positioned on the tracks with their treads within thespaces between the flanges of channels 20 forming the tracks, while theannular flanges 44 of these wheels are disposed outside the flanges ofthe channels as shown in detail in Figure 7. The under portion of thebody of the bucket is provided with two pairs of elongated shoes 45-45that provide braces across the bottom of the bucket to add rigiditythereto, and the members of each pair are connected by tie-members46-46. Suitable lugs 41-41 depend from the curved under surface of thebucket body, near the ends thereof and are preferably located adiacentand outside the planes of the elongated shoes 45. These lugs 41-41are'provided with suitable apertures and the ends of the pulling cables48-48 are adjustably secured therein in any suitable manner. The cablespass upwardly in an oblique direction outside of and parallel to thetracks 20 of the ramp and at the top of the latter said cables pass oversheaves 49-49 that are rotatably mounted loose upon the adjacentextended ends of a rock shaft 50. The rock shaft 50.15 journalled inmembers 5| depending fromthe humps" or upper arcuate portions 2| of thetracks, and from the sheaves 49-49 the cables pass downwardly in asubstantially vertical direction to windlasses 52-52 anchored upon theends of a drive shaft 53. As will be seen in Figures 1 and 2, the driveshaft 53 is journalled in bearings 54-54, mounted upon the chassis ofthe tractor at or adjacent the rear end thereof and said shaft is drivenby suitable power mechanism which will be later described.

After the bucket has been loaded. in the position shown in Figure 1, itis raised by lifter arms 55-55 in a curved path until the wheels 43 ofthe bucket pass into the channels of the ramp tracks 20. This entranceof the bucket wheels 43 takes place in front of the cutaway portion 25of the upper channel flanges of the tracks. The lifter arms 55-55comprise elongated members that are fulcrumed upon their rear ends onpins 56-58 and their outer movable end portions are provided withconcave saddles 51-51 to receive the curved body portion of the bucket.As shown in detail in Figure 8 the arms are of a somewhat Y-shape, beingformed with relatively short branches 58 and longer branches 59 and saidlonger branches are connected adjacent their outer ends by a transversebeam that is of a triangular shape in cross section. Beyond thecross-bars 60 the longer branches 59 of the arms 55 are provided withopen sockets ii to receive cross-pins 62-62, each extending between twosmall lugs 63 projecting from the bottom of the bucket. It will be notedin Figures 8 and 13 that the sockets 6| are so shaped that the lowerparts thereof project beyond the ends of the upper portions which willpermit the clearing of the bucket from the arms and the saddles when thebucket has been lifted up to and positioned on the tracks.

Means are provided whereby the bucket may be temporarily or detachablyconnected to the respective arms. This structure comprises a latch-hook64 fulcrumed upon a pivot 65 extending transversely across the shortbranches 58 of the arms and projecting out of the end thereof where itis adapted to engage with cross-pins 46 on the adjacent portions of thebucket. The latch-hooks 64 are automatically returned to their latchingpositions by means of spring elements 61 that are coiled around theprojecting portions of the pivot pins 65 and have end portions 68engaged with lateral members 69 on the latch-hooks, which lateralmembers ride in slots 70 in the wall of the branch 58. The other ends llof the springs are engaged with steps 12 projecting from the adjacentportions of the branches 58 of the arms. The pin 69 cooperating with thearcuate slot limits the movement of the lever 64 in both directions(Figure 5). The ends of the pivot pins 65 project through the oppositewalls of the branches 58 and are provided with trips 13. It will beunderstood that each arm 55 is provided with the latches and tripmembers just described.

When the windlasses 52 are rotated the cables '48 will pull the bucketupwardly with the arms 55 until the leading wheel on the bucketisengaged with the track and during a portion of this movement the tripmembers 13 will have engaged the respective cam pieces 74 projectingfrom the sides of the ramp frame adjacent the lower ends of the tracks.This releases the latch-hooks 64-64 from the pins 66-66 on the bucketand the bucket will leave the saddles at the ends of the arms 55 andsaid arms will continue their arcuate movement until the crosspiece 60,which connects the arms, engages a spring stop 15 that is disposedtransversely across the ramp. In this latter position the pins 62 on thebucket will have reached a position with respect to the sockets 61 inthe ends of the longer branches 59 so that said pins will move out ofsaid sockets while the cables continue to pull the bucket up the ramp.This stage in the cycle of operation is shown in dotted lines in Figure5. Lugs 45' on the bottom of the bucket engaged with stop members 59 onthe branches 59 of the lifter arms 55, prevent the bucket 39 fromsliding out of the saddles 51 while it is being elevated to and placedupon the tracks or ramp 20.

The cables will continue to pull the bucket upwardly over the humponcurved portion 2! of the ramp, and the leading wheels of the bucketpass down reversely inclined extensions 22 of the ramps or tracks andenter the terminal portions 01" seats 23 thereof. In this position theleading wheels of the bucket are adapted to act as pivots and the weightof the bucket is to the rear of the leading wheels which allows thebucket to up-end itself. movement the rear or trailing wheels of thebucket. pass through cutaway or notched out portiorr 16 in the upperflanges of the rails or tracks. In the downward swing of the bucket tothe dumping position shown in full l nes in Figure 5, the braces or ribs45 on the body of the bucket are adapted to engage shoes ll-11 that arepfvotally mounted as at 18 on the ends of horizontal plungers l9suitably carried upon the ramp frame preferably by the oblique channelmembers 26. The said plungers are surrounded by springs 80 betweencollars 6i and the members in which the plungers are mounted to urge theplungers outwardly.- This tends to cushion the impact resulting from thesudden its load. The balance of the load will be dumped In performingthis as required, under the control of the operator, by his use of thefriction clutch in allowing the bucket to dump freely, or slowly asdesired.

The arms are provided with cable engaging or guide yokes, each of whichcomprises a corner member 82 having a guide channel 83 in its edge andhaving outwardly flared lips 84 as shown in Figure 10. These cableengaging guide yokes are preferably spaced from the arms by means ofstays 85 and 86. The stay 85, as shown in Figure 8, extends from thecorner member 82 downwardly to and is suitably secured to the bucketlifting arm 55 in any suitable manner. The other stay 86 is obliquelydisposed and extends from the corner member downwardly to the bearingboss at the rear end of the arm 55. The arm 55 and the stays 85 and 86,together with the corner member 82, provide a triangular shaped framewhich constitutes a bell-crank lever of relatively large proportions andas seen in Figure 1the cable 48 engages in the grooves of the cornermembers of these bell-cranks at a location betweenthe sheaves 49 and thecable attaching lugs 41 on the bucket. This arrangement tends to assistin the lifting movement of the arms when moving the bucket upwardly fromits loading position, at the left in Figure l, to a position where thecable will be withdrawn from the yoke to provide a'straight run of cablefrom the bucket direct to the sheaves 49.

One of the structural members of the track frame is provided with ashelf 81 upon which the cylinder 88 of a hydraulic operated jack ismounted. The piston of this jack is moved out wardly by a suitablepressure fluid that is fed to the bottom of the cylinder through a pipe89, which pipe leads from a control box 90 lo-- cated convenient'to theoperator. The plunger or piston of the jack carries a cross-bar 9| uponits outer end and there is a tension spring 92 "that is connected to thecross-piece at one end while its other end is ccnnectedto a fixed lug 93so that the tendency of the spring is to urge the plunger downwardly inthe cylinder. The cross-piece is connected to a relatively short cable94 that passes down under a small pulley the extended ends of rock-shaft50 between the tion of the ramp are-shown at the right in Fi:-

ure 5. In these positions the cables 48 which have pulled the bucket upthe ramp and over the This ' 96 will rock the shaft arms 98 to engagestops 4 hump thereof have moved from the sheaves 49 to the sheaves 99and the bucket has become up-ended and dumped. In order to start thereverse movement of the bucket the operator admits compressed fluid tothe cylinder 88 of the jack thereby gradually forcing the plungeroutwardly and creating a pull upon the short cable 94 which, due to itsanchorage upon the sheave 50 contra-clockwise and swing the lever armsfrom their normally horizontal position to the right of the rock shaftto an opposite position as shown in dotted lines which is to the left ofthe rock shaft in Figure 5. In this position the bucket pulling cableswill have returned to the sheaves 49 and suitable lugs I on the ends ofthe lever arms 98 will have become engaged with latch-hooks IOI. Theselatch-hooks are mounted upon pivots I02 that are carried in any suitablemanner upon the lower flanges of the tracks 20 and said hooks IOI aremaintained in the locking position as shown by means of a spring I03that is connected to a suitable bell-crank member I04 that is carried bythe pivots I02 of the latch-hooks. When the bucket moves down the ramp,the operator may then regulate the return movement of the bucket bycontrolling the speed of rotation of the windlasses 52 through a clutchmechanism and the bucket will gravitate down the ramp and again engagewith the lifting arms which will thereupon assist in returning thebucket to a loading position after being latched to said arms.

The bell-crank member I04 carries upon one of its arms a roller I whichis in a position to be engaged by wheel trucks 4| upon the bucket andthis engagement causes a rocking of the bell-crank thereby moving thelatch-hook IOI away from the lug 104 on the lever arms and permits thelatter to swing back in a clockwise direction to a normal position whichis shown by the full lines of Figures 1 and 2.

The power devices of this apparatus may be of any desired type and, forthe purpose of illustration, there is shown the hydraulic pump I08 atthe front end of the tractor and adapted to be actuated by the motor I6in any suitable manner. Pipe lines I0'I lead to the control box 90hereinbefore mentioned, and pipe lines I08 lead from the control box tothe hydraulic motor I09 which is connected in tandem with a similarmotor IIO, while an automatic valve III controls the hydraulic motor IIOthrough the medium of a bleeder in the main line I08 leading to themotor I09. This valve is adapted to open at a predetermined pressure andallows the hydraulic fluid to actuate the motors H0 and I09. Thus thepower on the windlasses 52 may be doubled while the speed practicallyone-half. There is an inclosed clutch I I2 on the motor shaft andalongside this clutch there is a gear reduction mechanism II3 (thedetails of which need not be shown) and the reduced speed shaft of thisgear mechanism pro jects out of the casing and has a pinion II4 securedto it that meshes with a large gear H5 that is fast upon the shaft 53which drives the windlasses 52.

A coiled spring I I6 which surrounds rock-shaft 50 has one end IIIsuitably secured to the ramp frame and has its other end II8 engagedwith a lateral member II9 that is secured to the rockshaft so that thelatter is normally urged in a direction to urge the lugs I00 on the endsof lever I20 on the rear portions of the windlasses is reduced of thetracks 20. In this manner the sheaves 89 may be returned to their normalpositions as shown inFigures l and 5.

After the bucket has been dumped, the operator will admit pressure fluidto the cylinder 88 of the jack to force the piston and its cross-memberII outwardly against the pull of spring 92 and such movement will'pullthe short cable 94 and rotate the sheave 96 thereby rocking therock-shaft 50 which in turn will swing the lever arms 98contraclockwise. Since the bucket moving cables 48 are taut around thesheaves 98 between the bucket and the windlasses 52, this swing of thelever-arms 98 will pull the bucket back from its dumping positionthereby restoring the released bucket wheels to the track and moving thebucket a suitable distance forwardly beyond the humps 2I of the tracksso that said bucket may be gravitated down the ramp by releasing theclutch to permit free rotation of the windlesses 52.

Stops IOI' maintain the latch-hooks IOI in position (Figure 1) to beengaged by lugs I00 at the ends of the rocker-arms 98 when the bucket 39is moved back from its tilted position onto the hump 2| of the ramp 20.When the bucket 39 is released to gravitate down the ramp 20, the ends4| of the wheel trucks 4| will contact the rollers I05 to depressthemand rock the bell-cranks I04 in a counter-clockwise direction (viewedfrom Figure 1). This will actuate the latch-hooks IM to release themfrom the lugs I00 so that the rocker-arms 98 responding to the urge ofspring II8 will be restored to their normal positions until after thesucceeding dumping of the bucket 39.

Upon reaching the arms 55 as shown in dotted lines in Figure 5, the pins62 will enter the sockets SI and the arms will begin their return swingdownwardly to their initial or loading positions and the bucket willbecome seated in the saddles 51 at the free ends of the arms. When thebucket is passing the cam plates I4 the trip will release thelatch-hooks 64 so that said hooks will engage with the cross-pins 66thereby locking the arms to the bucket 4 While I have illustrated anddescribed a preferred embodiment of this invention, it must beunderstood that the invention is capable of considerable variation andmodification without departing from the spirit of the invention. 1,therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details ofconstruction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variationsand modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A material handling apparatus embodying a runway; a support therefor;a bucket adapted to traverse said runway during-a portion of its cycleof operation; actuating means adapted to move said bucket in itsaforesaid cycle; rigid arm means engageable with said bucket andoperable responsive to said actuating means for lifting said bucket andguiding it to and from said runway; and devices for disengaging saidlifting means from the bucket during the travel of said bucket on saidrunway.

2. A material handling apparatus embodying a runway; a support therefor;a bucket adapted to traverse said runway during a portion of its cycleof operation; actuating means adapted to move said bucket in itsaforesaid cycle; fulcrumed reciprocable rigid arm means engageable withsaid bucket and operable responsive to said actuating means for liftingsaid bucket and guiding it to and from said runway; and devices fordisengaging said fulcrumed means from the bucket during the travel ofsaid bucket on said runway.

3. A material handling apparatus embodying a runway; a support therefor;a bucket adapted to traverse said runway during a portion of its cycleof operation; actuating means adapted to move said bucket in itsaforesaid cycle; rigid arms fulcrumed on said support and movableresponsive to said actuating means, the free portions of said armsadapted to lift said bucket and guide it to and from said runway; anddevices for disengaging said arms from the bucket during the travel ofsaid bucket on said runway.

4. A material handling apparatus embodying a runway; a support therefor;a bucket adapted to traverse said runway during a portion of its cycleof operation; actuating meansadapted to move said bucket in itsaforesaid cycle; rigid arms fulcrumed on said support below said runwayand movable responsive tov said actuating means, said arms adapted tolift said bucket and guide it to and from said runway; latching devicesdetachably connecting said arms to said bucket; and means for releasingsaid latching devices whereby said arms are detached from the bucketduring the travel of said bucket on said runway. 5. A material handlingapparatus embodying a runway; a support therefor; a bucket adapted totraverse said runway during a portion of its cycle of operation; a cableconnected to said bucket and adapted to move said bucket in itsaforesaid cycle; power devices for moving said cable; rigid arm meansengageable with said bucket andoperable responsive to the movement ofsaid cable for lifting said bucket and guiding it to and from saidrunway; and devices for disengaging said lifting means from the bucketduring the travel of said bucket on said runway.

6. A material handling apparatus embodying a runway; a support therefor;a bucket adapted to traverse said runway during a portion of its cycleof operation; a cable connected to said bucket and adapted to move saidbucket in its aforesaid cycle; power devices for moving said cable;fulcrumed reciprocable rigid arm means engageable with said bucket andoperable responsive to the movement of said cable for lifting saidbucket and guiding it to and from said runway; and devices fordisengaging said fulcrumed lifting means from the bucket during thetravel of said bucket on said runway.

7. A material handling apparatus embodying a runway; a support therefor;a bucket adapted to traverse said runway during a portion of its cycleof operation; a cable connected to said bucket and adapted to move saidbucket in its aforesaid cycle; power devices for moving said cable;rigid arms fulcrumed on said support and movable responsive to themovement of said cable, said arms adapted to lift said bucket and guideit to and said arms from the bucket during the travel of said bucket onsaid runway. a

8. A material handling apparatus embodying a runway; a support therefor;a bucket adapted to traverse said runway during a portion of its cycleof operation; a cable connected to and from said runway; and devices fordisengaging said bucket; and devices. for operating said latches todisengage said arms from the bucket during the travel of said bucket onsaid runway.

9. A material handling apparatus embodying a support; a runway thereon;a bucket adapted to traverse said runway during a portion of its cycleof operation; cables connected to and adapted to move said bucket in.its aforesaid cycle; rigid arms fulcru-med on said support; saddles atthe free ends of said arms adapted for detach- 1 able connection withsaid bucket; said arms mov able responsive to the movement of saidcables and thereby adapted for guiding said bucket to and from saidrunway; power means for winding and unwinding said cable; means on saidsaddles providing attachment to said bucket; and means on said runwayoperating said attaching means for disengaging said saddles from. thebucket during the travel of said bucket onsaid runway.

a support; spaced tracks providing a ramp thereon; a material diggingand carrying bucket; wheels on said bucket adapted for operation on saidtracks during the cycle of operation of said bucket on said support;actuating means adapted to move said bucket to and along said ramp;fulcru-med rigid arm means operable responsive to said actuating meansfor guiding the, bucket to siad tracks; and devices for disengaging"said fulcrumed means from the bucket during the travel of said bucketon said tracks.

11. A material handling apparatus embodyinga support; spaced tracksproviding a ramp there on; a material digging and carrying bucket;wheels on said bucket adapted for operation on said tracks during thecycle of operation of said bucket-on said support; cables connected-tosaid bucket; actuating means for moving said cables to pull said bucketup said ramp; fulcrumed rigid arm means operable responsive to said ac.-tuating-means for transferring said bucket from a loading position tosaid tracks; and. devices for disengaging said fulcrumed means from thebucket when said bucket reaches said tracks.

12. A material handling apparatus embodying a support; spaced tracksproviding a ramp thereon; a material digging and carrying bucketprovided with wheels adapted for operation upon said ramp during themovement of said bucket up and down said ramp; actuating means adapt edto move said bucket in its cycle of operation; rigid lifter armsfulcrumed on said support for guiding the bucket from loading positionto said ramp, and devices for disengaging said lifter arms from thebucket during the travel of said bucket upon said ramp.

13. A material handling apparatus embodying a runway; a supporttherefor; a material digging and carrying bucket provided with wheelsadapted for operation'upon said runway during a portion of the cycle ofoperation of said bucket: means adapted to bodily move said bucket fromits loading to its unloading positions; rigid arm bucket lifting meansoperable responsive to said bucket moving means for lifting said bucketfrom v said runway.

14. A material handling apparatus embodyin an inclined ramp; a. materialdig in and carrying bucket adapted to traverse said ramp; a cable formoving said bucket up'said ramp; a sheave at the upper portion of saidramp with which said cable is engaged during upward movement 10. Amaterial handling apparatus embodying.

of said bucket; a rock-shaft; means adjacent said rock-shaft adapted totilt said bucket; a second sheave bodily movable with said rockshatt andadapted to be engaged by said cable upon the tilting of said bucket;and'means for rotating said rock-shaft to bodily move said second sheavewhile it is engaged with said cable and thereby restore said bucket to anon-tilted position.

15. A material handling apparatus embodying an inclined ramp; a materialdi ing and carrying bucket adapted to traverse said ramp; a cable formoving said bucket up said ramp; a sheave at the upper portion of saidramp with which said-cable is engaged during upward movement of saidbucket; a rock-shaft; means adjacent said rock-shaft adapted to tiltsaid bucket; a leverarm fixed to said rock-shaft; a second sheavejournalled on said lever-arm in a position to be engaged by said cableupon the tilting of said bucket; and means for rotating said rock-shaftto actuate said lever-arm and bodily move said second sheave while it isengaged with said cable and thereby restore said bucket to a non-tiltedposition.

16. A material handling apparatus embodying an inclined ramp; a materialdig ing and carrying bucket adapted to traverse said ramp; a cable formoving said bucket up said ramp: a sheave at the upper portion of saidramp with which said cable is engaged during upward movement of saidbucket; a rock-shaft; a downwardly inclined track at the upper end ofsaid ramp adapted to receive and tilt said bucket; a second sheavebodily movable with said rock-shaft and adapted to beengaged by saidcable upon the tilting of said bucket; and means for rotating saidrockshait to bodily move said second sheave while it is engaged withsaid cable and thereby return said bucket to said ramp from said track.

17. A material handling apparatus embodying an inclined ramp; a materialdigging and carrying bucket adapted to traverse said ramp; a cable formoving said bucket up said ramp; a sheave at the upper portion of saidramp with which said cable is engaged during upward movement of saidbucket; a rock-shaft on which said sheave rototes; a downwardly inclinedtrack at the upper end of said ramp adapted to receive and tilt saidbucket; a lever-arm fixed to said rock-shaft and movable therewith; asecond sheave joumalled on said lever-arm and bodily movable therewith,said second sheave adapted to be engaged by said cable upon the tiltingof said bucket; and means for rotating said rock-shaft to bodily movesaid lever-arm and said second sheave while the latter is engaged withsaid cable and thereby move said bucket from said track to said ramp.

18. A material handling apparatus embodying an inclined ramp; a materialdigging and canying bucket adapted to traversesaid ramp; means at theupper end of said ramp adapted to tilt said bucket; means for movingsaid bucket on said ramp; a rocker-arm fulcrumed at the upper portion ofsaid ramp; a sheave rotatably carried by the movable portion of saidarm, said sheave adapted to be engaged by a portion of-the bucketmovingmeans when said bucket is engaged with said tilting means; a cablehaving at one end an operative connection with said rocker-arm; andreciprocable power actuated means having connection with anotherportionoi said cable for moving the latter, the movement of said cablethrough the medium of said power means adapted to rock said arm to shiftsaid bucket away from said bucket tilting means.

19. A material handling apparatus embodying an inclined ramp; a materialdigging and carrying bucket adapted to traverse said ramp; is downwardlyinclined track at the upper end of said ramp adapted to tilt saidbucket; an elongated cable for moving said bucket on said ramp; arocker-arm iulcrumed at the upper portion of said ramp; a sheaverotatably carried by the movable portion oi said am. said sheaveadaptedto be engaged by a portion of said elongate cable when said bucket isdisposed on said downwardly inclined track; a short cable having at oneend an operative connection with said rocker-arm; and reciprocable poweractuated means having connection with another portion of said secondmentioned short cable for moving the latter the movement of said shortcable through the medium of said power means adapted to rock .111 arm toremove said bucket from said downwardly inclined track and return saidbucket to said ramp.

20. In a material handling apparatus the combination with a vehicleframe; a ramp thereon; a support (or said ramp iulcrumed on said vehicleframe; material penetrating and conveyingmssns movable on said ramp;means for displacing lid last named means between said support and saidramp and therealong, and means for fixedly adjusting said ramp supportwith respect to said vehicle frame to vary the penetrating position oithe material penetrating and conveying means depending upon the positionof said vehicle frame to accomplish the most effective digging movement01' said penetrating means.

STEPHEN GRUBICH.

